Antonio Rodríguez Balinas

Template:Short description Template:Template other Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas (February 28, 1928 – September 21, 2011) was the first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command.

Early years

Rodríguez Balinas was born and raised in the town of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education.

He joined the United States Army upon graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, where he earned is Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Doctorate in Law from University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Rodríguez Balinas entered the Officer Candidate School program and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon completing the program. At the outbreak of the Korean War, he was assigned to the 65th Infantry Regiment.

Korean War

On April 23, 1951, Rodríguez Balinas, who was assigned to "F" Co., of the 65th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, defended the left flank of his company from constant enemy attacks at Ognyo-Bong, Hill 305 at a great risk to his life. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal and promoted to the rank of first lieutenant for his bravery. On December 23, 1951, he fearlessly walked through a lethal hail of enemy fire directly toward the hostile bunker of the enemy, hurled his hand grenades and singlehandedly completely destroyed the enemy position and its occupants near Sorgyon-Myon, Korea. For his actions he was awarded his second Silver Star and a Purple Heart.

Later career

Rodríguez Balinas continued his academic education and earned a PhD degree in Law from the UPR. In March 1968, the reserve units in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands of the United States Army were organized into the 166th Support Group. On July 14, 1973, the then-Colonel Rodríguez Balinas took command of the 166th Support Group and was given full command and control of all USAR (United States Army Reserve) units in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of Colonel Rodríguez Balinas's accomplishments was to have all the missions and functions of a major U.S. Army Reserve Command under the First U.S. Army. He wanted full autonomy for the Army Reserve forces in Puerto Rico.

In February 1977, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico became a General Office Command with the establishment of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command with Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, who was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, as its first General Officer. In 1979, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico were awarded the Best Major U.S. Army Reserve Command Award. Brigadier General Rodríguez Balinas held the position of General Officer until February 27, 1988, when he retired after 37 years of active and reserve duty. He was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal upon his retirement.

In 2018 Antonio Rodríguez Balinas was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.

Death

He died on September 21, 2011, in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, and was buried with military honors in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery located in the city of Bayamon.

Military awards and decorations

Among Rodríguez Balinas' decorations were the following:

File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg
Bronze oak leaf cluster Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Bronze oak leaf cluster Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Silver star Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Template:Ribbon devices/alt
File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif
File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg File:Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png

Combat Infantryman Badge
Silver Star with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster				Legion of Merit				Purple Heart with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal				Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal				National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with silver star				Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass device				United Nations Korea Medal
Parachutist badge
Presidential Unit Citation							Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

Foreign decoration

The Bravery Gold Medal of Greece was given by the government of Greece to the 65th Infantry Regiment and to the members of the regiment who fought in the Korean War.

• File:Greek Cross of Valour ribbon.png  Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)

Congressional Gold Medal Template:Template other On June 10, 2014, President Barack Obama, signed the legislation known as "The Borinqueneers CGM Bill" at an official ceremony. The Bill honors the 65th Infantry Regiment with the Congressional Gold Medal.

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican military personnel
• 65th Infantry Regiment
• Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal